No police officers were on rooftops during Tinkune protest: DIG Acharya

KATHMANDU: Nepal Police has clarified that no security personnel were stationed on any rooftops during last Friday’s violent royalist protest led by Durga Prasai and Nabaraj Subedi in Tinkune.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Nepal Police spokesperson DIG Dinesh Kumar Acharya refuted claims that officers had fired tear gas from rooftops.

“No police officers entered any rooftops in Tinkune that day,” he stated. “As for tear gas, it is always fired from below, and the canister falls downward after reaching a height. Bullets, however, are fired directly.”

Acharya also attributed the violence primarily to Durga Prasai’s actions.

Regarding the death of journalist Suresh Rajak, who was trapped inside Marble House in Tinkune, Acharya stated that efforts to rescue him were obstructed by the protesters.

“He could have been saved, but the royalists prevented fire trucks from entering,” Acharya explained. “Instead of allowing firefighters to control the blaze, they vandalized the fire truck, making it impossible to rescue Rajak.”